ED, CBI Being Misused to Intimidate AAP Leaders Ahead of Elections: Baltej Pannu
Chandigarh News (24th April 2026): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab General Secretary and Media In-Charge Baltej Pannu tore into the Bharatiya Janata Party and Union Home Minister Amit Shah over a coordinated attempt to weaken AAP by misusing central agencies and engineering defections of its Members of Parliament.
Addressing a press conference, AAP Punjab State General Secretary and Media In-charge Baltej Pannu stated, “Amit Shah is actively working to weaken AAP by engineering defections and using Raghav Chadha as a tool to execute this plan. There are credible reports within the party that Amit Shah offered Raghav Chadha a Union Ministerial position if he succeeds in breaking at least seven AAP MPs and bringing them into a new political outfit.”
He further stated, “A new party is being formed through Raghav Chadha with the backing of the BJP, and efforts are underway to lure AAP MPs into joining it. Our MPs are being pressured through false ED raids, intimidation tactics, and coercion.”
Launching a direct attack on Raghav Chadha, he said, “The party gave him immense respect and elevated him to Parliament at a very young age, but he has now stabbed Punjab in the back. Punjabis love wholeheartedly, but they also know how to deal with those who betray them.”
Issuing a warning, Baltej Pannu said, “Do not take enmity with Punjabis. It will prove very costly.”
He added that since coming to power at the Centre, the Bharatiya Janata Party has repeatedly attempted to topple governments in states where it is not in power by using money power, fear, and central agencies. “They failed in Delhi, and they failed in Punjab because AAP leaders and legislators are committed to a mission and cannot be broken,” he said.
Highlighting developments in Punjab, he noted that even after AAP completed four years in government and entered its fifth year, repeated attempts have been made to destabilize it. “Our MLAs were offered money, threatened, and lured with false promises. Claims were made that dozens of MLAs were in contact, but nothing materialized because our leaders are committed to public service,” he said.
On recent enforcement actions, Baltej Pannu said, “The recent ED raids on AAP MPs are part of a larger strategy to create pressure. These MPs are businessmen, and never before have such raids been conducted against them. This is clearly politically motivated.”
He added that agencies such as ED, CBI, and even the Election Commission become active ahead of elections to serve the BJP’s political agenda. “They are used to create fear, malign reputations, and force leaders into submission or defection,” he said.
Referring to cases against AAP leadership, he stated, “False corruption charges were filed against our top leaders including Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, Satyendar Jain, and Sanjay Singh. They were jailed for months and years, yet nothing came out of those cases. Courts have even said that such cases were not fit to proceed.”
He reiterated that fresh pressure is now being mounted on AAP MPs through ED actions as part of the same conspiracy, adding that Amit Shah is directly leading this effort to reduce AAP’s voice in Parliament. “But this will not succeed,” he asserted.
Taking a swipe at BJP’s ambitions in Punjab, Baltej Pannu said, “BJP claims it will contest and form government in Punjab in 2027. They are free to contest, but given the way they are attacking Punjab, its government, and its people, they should forget that Punjabis will accept them.”
He also recalled similar past claims by Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa. “Nothing happened then, and nothing will happen now,” he said.
Highlighting AAP’s governance model, he stated, “AAP has delivered in sectors like education and healthcare, forcing opposition parties to change their political narrative. Earlier, no one talked about education and health. These parties thrived on divisive politics based on religion.”
He further added that BJP’s concern is also linked to AAP’s growing popularity beyond Delhi and Punjab, particularly in Gujarat. “The kind of response AAP is receiving in Gujarat has rattled Amit Shah, prompting these desperate attempts,” he said.
Concluding his address, Baltej Pannu said, “Our MPs are not afraid of ED or CBI raids. BJP and Amit Shah can do whatever they want. Punjabis are a brave community, they respond strongly to those who try to intimidate them.”
